Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing remains a critical challenge to the governance and sustainability of small-scale fisheries, creating significant economic, ecological, and social pressures on coastal municipalities. This study aimed to evaluate local responses to IUU fishing in the coastal waters of the ATOM Alliance municipalities composed of Alicia, Talusan, Olutanga, and Mabuhay in Zamboanga Sibugay, Philippines using the Philippine IUU Fishing Index and Threat Assessment Tool (I-FIT) developed by Department of Agriculture–Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR) and United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Fish Right Program. The assessment employed five response indicators: (R1) enforcement team fully operational; (R2) targeted and purposive information, education, and communication (IEC) programs; (R3) local government compliance with national fisheries laws; (R4) systematic data collection on IUU fishing used to inform reduction strategies; and (R5) approved IUU fishing reduction plan. These indicators denoting IUU fishing risk were scored from 1 (low risk) to 4 (very high risk), with data quality rated from 1 (low reliability) to 3 (high reliability) by stakeholders through workshop, focus group discussion, key informant interview. ATOM Alliance municipalities collectively are under moderate to nearly high risk, with an average response score of 2.75, similar to the national average of 2.76. Results showed moderate risk in Mabuhay (2.00) and Alicia (2.60), and high risk in Talusan (3.00) and Olutanga (3.40). Data quality was highest in Alicia and Talusan (3.00), medium in Mabuhay (2.60), and lowest in Olutanga (1.50). Key findings highlighted strengths and gaps: (R1): enforcement capacity stronger in Alicia and Mabuhay but weak in Olutanga and Talusan; (R2): IEC programs consistent in Alicia and Mabuhay but sporadic in Talusan and Olutanga; (R3): Mabuhay and Talusan 83.33% compliant with the Fisheries Compliance Audit (FCA), while Alicia and Olutanga had no FCA records; (R4): data gathered but not consistently analyzed and applied; (R5): most municipalities lacked approved reduction plans. Overall, the study highlights the importance of coordinated capacity-building, standardized governance, and proactive IUU reduction strategies for sustainable small-scale fisheries management. This study directly supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14.4 by addressing IUU fishing.
Microplastic pollution has become an urgent threat to marine ecosystems, but its effects on coral reefs, especially in highly biodiverse areas such as the Philippines remain largely unknown. This is the first report on the microplastic contamination in the coral reef ecosystem in Lawigan, Bislig, Surigao del Sur, Philippines. Seawater, sediment, fish, and corals (including Acropora and Pocillopora species) were analyzed for microplastics according to standardized methodology. These samples were subjected to chemical digestion (10% KOH), density separation (NaCl), and filtration, and the particles were characterized by microscopy and FTIR spectroscopy. Seawater was noted to contain 60 microplastic particles (0.17 MP particles m(-3)) with the dominance of polypropylene (PP, 21.7%) and polyethylene (PE-HD, 18.3%), and 83.9% of reef fish had microplastics in their digestive tract (mean: 1.5 particles/individual), with films and fibers being the most prevalent shape. Corals contained up to 5 particles/ individual, including particles embedded in tissues, whereas reef sediments contained larger fragments (>1000 mu m) at 0.037 particles g(-1). The dominance of fishing gear polymers (PP/PE) suggests local anthropogenic origins. The microplastics in Philippine coral reefs may add to the burden on these ecosystems, which are already in danger from climate change and overfishing. This study sets baseline data that can be critically used to reduce the impact of anthropogenic factors (such as the use of non-eco-friendly fisheries practices) and to promote community-based monitoring.
Studies on the identification, functional roles, and environmental factors shaping the gut microbiota composition of the sea cucumber Bohadschia marmorata remain scarce. This study aims to (i) characterize the gut bacterial community structure of B. marmorata from Barobo, Surigao del Sur using 16S rRNA gene-based metagenomic analysis, (ii) describe microbial diversity and community composition, and (iii) identify bacterial taxa with potential relevance to probiotic development, opportunistic pathogenicity, and food safety. In November 2024 and February 2025, adult Bohadschia marmorata were collected from seagrass beds in Barobo, Surigao del Sur, with six individuals selected for gut microbiome analysis. The V3–V4 region of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene was sequenced using the Oxford Nanopore MinION platform and analyzed with QIIME2, SILVA, and PICRUSt2. The gut microbiota was dominated by Pseudomonadota (~60%), followed by Bacillota (~25%) and Bacteroidota (~10%). Functional profiling revealed enrichment in energy metabolism, carbohydrate degradation, amino acid metabolism, and oxidative phosphorylation. Several taxa, including Bacillus velezensis, Ruminococcus, and Pseudomonas, showed potential probiotic and biotechnological relevance. These findings provide baseline information for sustainable aquaculture, biomonitoring, and the ecological understanding of B. marmorata.
This study assessed the economic profitability of cultured local mudfish (Channa striata) fry reared in net cages under an extended photoperiod for a 28-day trial. The experiment applied two treatments: one with a natural photoperiod (natural) and the other with a 24 h photoperiod (24L:0D). Fry provided with a 24 h photoperiod grew faster than fry provided with a natural photoperiod. Fry grown under light-aided conditions reached the desired size for nursery culture (33.67±0.25 mm) within 2 weeks. Thus, the provision of a continuous photoperiod in larval culture shortened the hatchery phase. Notably, the abundance of zooplankton at night was significantly higher (p<0.05) in the light-aided condition (3091.09±1028.80 individuals L-1) compared to the control treatment with natural photoperiod (1240.92±675.70 individuals L-1). Increased prey availability contributed to the enhanced growth rate of the fry. Further, treatment with continuous photoperiod (24L:0D) has a significantly higher (p<0.05) survival rate (69.56±2.47%) compared to the treatment with a natural photoperiod (23.11±11.33%). Moreover, the economic analysis revealed that 24L:0D yielded a higher net profit (PHP 205,588.60) and a higher return on investment (56.02%) than the natural photoperiod treatment, indicating its feasibility as a cost-effective rearing strategy. No significant difference (p>0.05) was observed in the nutritional profile of fry reared under both treatments, indicating that extended photoperiod primarily influenced growth performance and survival rather than composition.
Erratum to: Phillip J Fish. DOI: 10.31398/tpjf/32.2.2024-0026 The authors would like to correct the error in the surname of one of the references for both in-text citations and the reference list. The incorrect spelling used was: “Supersales, J.B.” (Int J Ecosyst Ecol Sci. 4(3):433–442) The correct spelling should be: “Superales, J.B.”
